摘要 |
The present invention is directed to a bi-stable coupling for controlling the depth of a tool insertion, such as drilling, and similar processes. The bi-stable coupling can be used to penetrate (e.g., drill or push) through a material layer of unknown thickness without plunging the tool into the adjacent layer. In accordance with the invention, in a first state, force is applied to the tool to initiate penetration and a reactive force maintains the device in the first state during penetration and when tool penetrates the material, the reactive force is diminished enabling the device to transition to a second state in which the tool becomes retracted. In medical applications, the invention allows for drilling through bone of unknown thickness without plunging into the adjacent soft tissue. |
申请人 |
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE;BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC.;WALSH, CONOR JAMES;THOMAS, AJITH;KESNER, SAMUEL BENJAMIN;PEI, HAO;XIAO, KECHAO;LOSCHAK, PAUL;GALLOWAY, KEVIN C. |
发明人 |
WALSH, CONOR JAMES;THOMAS, AJITH;KESNER, SAMUEL BENJAMIN;PEI, HAO;XIAO, KECHAO;LOSCHAK, PAUL;GALLOWAY, KEVIN C. |